Slide projector



Nov. 11, 1969 GQULD ET AL suns PROJECTOR 13 Sheets-Sheet 1 OriginalFiled June 23, 1964 INV Irwin J7% ouZcZ Nov. 11, 1969 M. GOULD ET3,477,553

SLIDE PROJECTOR Original Filed June 25, 1964 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jaw/51.

Nov. 11, 1969 1. M. GOULD ET AL SLIDE PROJECTOR l3 Sheets-Sheet 5Original Filed June 23, 1964 INVENTORS- .fiwin J71 gould gerald Jbflloe-Nov. 11, 1969 Original Filed June 23, 1964 I. M. GOULD ET AL SLIDEPROJECTOR 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 By gera M J?- \/7Zoe. MZZQ/g Z.

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Nov. 11, 1969 I. M. eouu: ET AL 3,477,563

SLIDE PROJECTOR Original Filed June 23, 1964 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 WINVEJVEW vtwcrv \juuuvvvv m 7 WW T L N Maw .nu Z 19% Nov. 11, 1969 M.GOULD ET AL SLIDE PROJECTOR 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 Original Filed June 23,1964 INVENTORS- Irwin J7Z- ould uL Jfloe- L/UU gerald Hi-F United StatesPatent 3,477,563 SLIDE PROJECTOR Irwin M. Gould, Skokie, and Gerald A.Moe, Bulfalp Grove, Ill., assignors to Bell & Howell Company, Chlcago,Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application June 23, 1964, Ser.No. 377,232, now Patent No. 3,336,836, dated Aug. 22, 1967. Divided andthis application June 16, 1967, Ser. No. 668,724

Int. Cl. G03b 23/00; G09f 11/30 Us. (:1. 206-62 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This application is a division of application Ser. No.377,232 filed June 23, 1964, now US. Patent No. 3,336,- 836 issued onAug. 22, 1967.

The present invention relates to improvements in slide projectors andmore particularly concerns a new and improved tray gravity feed slideprojector with a previewing cycle.

Prior slide projectors have afforded no means by which the successiveslides in a tray or magazine could be auto- ,matically successivelypreviewed before projection to enable editing or proper orientation ofmisoriented slides in the series.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved slide projector affording novel means for successivelypreviewing each slide of the contents of a carrying tray or magazinebefore such slide is projected by the usual projection lens onto ascreen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved slideprojector having a previewing cycle in an automatic slide feeding andprojection sequence.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedautomatic s ide feed mechanism for pro jectors in which each successiveslide is presented to a previewing station before it is presented to theprojection optical system of the projector for projection onto a screen;6

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedgravity feed mechanism for slide projectors.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide novel means forcontrolling gravity feed of slides in a slide projector.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel cooperativemeans in a slide projector and on a slide tray or magazine forcontrolling gravity feed of slides from the tray or magazine.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a novel tray ormagazine having novel yieldable retaining means for slides to be gravityfed in a slide projector.

It is also an object of the invention to provide novel means in agravity feed projector for adapting conventional slide trays ormagazines for use therein.

3,477,563 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 "ice Still another object of theinvention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for loading aseries of slides into a slide tray or magazine from a previewingstation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of certainpreferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURES 1A to 1H are fragmentary schematic isometric views illustrativeof the cyclical. sequence in gravity feed, previewing and projection ofsuccessive slides from a slide carrying tray or magazine according tothe principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of slide projector machine unit embodyingfeatures of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional elevational detail View takensubstantially on the line III-III of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary top plan view taken substantially on the lineIV- -IV of FIGURE 3 and showing the operating mechanism of the machine;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the operatingmechanism in another relative orientation;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational detail viewtaken substantially on the line VI-VI of FIGURE 4; 1

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational detail viewtaken substantially on the line VIIVII of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional elevational detail view looking toward the rearof the operating mechanism and taken substantially on the line VIIIVIIIof FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational detail viewtaken substantially on the line IX-IX of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 9A is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view taken on theline IXAIXA of FIGURE 3 showing the septum lock in locking position;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan view takensubstantially on the line XX of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 11 is an elevational view showing the slide carrier cam face ofthe main control cam disk in the operating mechanism;

' FIGURE 12 is an elevational view of the opposite face of the maincontrol cam disk showing the slide lifter control cam thereon;

FIGURE 13 is a schematic operating sequence chart for the carriercontrol cam of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 14 is a schematic operating sequence chart for the slide liftercam and certain related operations identified by legends;

FIGURE 15 is an electrical diagram for the control circuitry of themachine;

7 FIGURE 16 is a schematic illustration of the preview optical system;

FIGURE 17 is a schematic illustration of the projection optical system;

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly broken away andin section, of a slide tray or magazine especially constructed andarranged to use with the projector of the present invention;

FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the tray;

FIGURE 20 is a vertical sectional detail view taken substantially on theline XXXX of FIGURE 18;

FIGURE 21 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational detail viewofone of the releasable slide retaining clips of the tray;

FIGURE 22 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially in section,showing a modification of the tray;

FIGURE 23 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the modification ofFIGURE 22;

FIGURE 24 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantiallyon the line XXIVXXIV of FIG- URE 22;

FIGURE 25 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational detail viewshowing the slide retaining clip structure of the tray of FIGURES 22-24;

FIGURE 26 is a fragmental side elevational view of a slide tray adapterfor use with the machine;

FIGURE 27 is a fragmental bottom plan view of the adapter;

FIGURE 28 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the lineXXVIII-XXVIII of FIGURE 26;

FIGURE 29 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational detail viewshowing the slide retaining spring clip structure; and

FIGURE 30 is a fragmentary end elevational view of a modification of thetray adapter.

011 reference to FIGURES lA-1H, an understanding will be gained of thesteps followed cyclically in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention pursuant to previewing and projecting each of asuccession of transparency slides 30 carried by a slide tray or magazine31 provided with septa 32 dividing the tray into separate parallel slidepockets or compartments from which the slides are adapted to be feddownwardly. For such gravity feed, simple, efiicient feeding mechanismwill suffice. For simplicity and efiiciency, the tray or magazine 31should be mountetd above a projection optical means so that the slides30 can be fed directly from the tray into a previewing and/or projectingposition and returned to the tray. In FIGURE 1A, the tray 31 filled withslides 30 in its compartments is placed in the projector and a sequenceof operations then takes place. In FIGURE 1B, the first of the slides 30in the series has been gravity fed downwardly, from where it is movedlaterally to the preview or editing position, as shown in FIGURE 1C.After previewing or editing, a reversal of slide movement takes placewith return of the slide to the tray as shown in FIGURE 1D.

The tray 31 is then advanced by one slide compartment increment, afterwhich both the number One and the number two slides are gravity feddownwardly as shown in FIGURE 1E and the number two slide movedlaterally to the preview or editing position while the number one slideremains in the projecting position and is projected onto a screen, asshown in the orientation of FIGURE 1F. At the beginning of the nextcycle, the number two slide is returned into parallel alignment with thenumber one slide and both of the slides are returned into theirrespective compartments in the tray 31, which is then advanced by oneslide compartment increment. During the same cycle the number two andthree slides are gravity fed downwardly as shown in FIGURE 1G, thenumber two slide remaining in the projecting position and the numberthree slide moved laterally to the preview or editing position as shownin FIGURE 1H. The cycle can be repeated as desired until all of thesuccessive slides 30 have been previewed and/r projected.

A machine 33 (FIGURE 2) adapted for accomplishing the foregoingautomatically comprises a neat, compact unit housed in a casing whichconveniently comprises separable, complementary, base and cover shells34 and 35, respectively. At one side of the top of the cover shell 35 isprovided means for supporting and longitudinally reciprocably guidingthe slide trays or cartridges 31 and desirably comprising alongitudinally extending depressed track 37. To receive the slides fromthe cartridge, a transverse slot 38 is provided across the bottom of thetrack 37 inte med ate its ends,

Below the track 37, Within the housing is..provi c led a projectionoptical system including a projection lens 39 extending from the forwardend of the housing and having aligned therewith inside the housing aprojection lamp 40 (FIGURE 17) behind which is a reflector 41 and infront of which is a Set of condensing lenses 42, with the respectiveslides 30 to be projected by being accommodated between the condensinglenses and the rear end of the projection lens or objective 39.

For previewing or editing, means are accommodated on and within thehousing at one side of the projection system area, and comp-rise aviewing screen 43 mounted in a support 44 which may conveniently becarried on the upper or cover shell 35 of the housing and'tiltedupwardly toward its forward end so as to be readily viewed by a personstanding rearwardly of the machine 33..- Within the housing is asuitable preview optical systern and illuminating means including a lamp45 (FIG- URE 16), a condensing lens 47 located between the lamp 45 andthe position assumed by the slide 30 to be previewed. The illuminatedimage is then projected by a lens or objective 48 onto a tilted mirror49 which impinges the image of the slide to be previewed onto theunderside of the screen 43 which may be of the frosted translucent panelvariety.

Conveniently alongside the previewing mirror location on the uppercasing member 35 is a remote control panel 50 (FIGURE 2). At one side ofthe housing is mounted a carrying handle 51 desirably secured to matingsecurement bosses 52 formed on the respective casing shell members 34and 35.

Each of the trays 31 is especially constructed for gravity feed of theslides 30 therefrom. Accordingly, each septum-divided compartment opensupwardly for slide loading and downwardly with controlled retainingmeans, for gravity feed of slides or slide loading into the tray fromthe previewing position. Retention of the slides against unintentionaldropping from the compartments is effected by means of resilientlyflexible spring clips 53 formed from spring metal strip stock and shapedto provide a retaining finger 54 arranged to be disposed in retainingrelation to the slide at the bottom of one side of the compartment. Adepending terminal lug 55 reinforces the finger and affords a meansengageable to spring the retaining finger outwardly to release theassociated slide for passage thereby in a vertical direction downwardlyfrom the compartment and returned thereto through the bottom slideopening in the compartment. Such slideclearing displacement of theretaining finger is enabled by a vertical resiliently flexible leg 57forming part of a generally inverted U-shaped spring clip body structureincluding an intermediate connecting web 58 and a depending anchoringleg 59 by which the clip is mounted on an integral clip-supporting andslide rail flange structure 60 on the outer side of the adjacent lowermargin of the side wall of the tray 31.

To enable assembly of the preformed retaining clips 53 readily by asnap-in manipulation, with positive retention of the clips in theiroperative position, a lancedout ntegral resilient retaining pron-g 61 isprovided on the free terminal portion of the clip leg 59 and projectingupwardly and inwardly so as to engage retainingly with a downwardlyfacing anchoring shoulder 62 provided on an inset upper portion 63 ofthe magazine rail structure. Thereby, assembly of each of the clips 53is readily eflected by introducing the finger portion 54 into theupwardly opening end of a clearance space 64 provided between theanchoring portion 63 and the adjacent side wall of the tray and thenmoving the clip downwardly into assembled position. Inward springtension on the spring arm or leg 57 is assured by initially forming theanchoring leg 59 to extend at an angle outwardly and in the course ofeffecting assembly, springing this leg inwardly to clear the upper edgeof the lower out-. wardly offset portion of the rail 60 which is spacedfrom th shoulder 62 to rovide a gap into which the inwardly sprung leg59 is guided during assembly, with the resilient retaining prong 61suitably sprung toward the anchoring leg by pressing it against the'adjacent outer wall of the anchoring portion 63 until the anchoringprong clears and snaps inwardly into engagement with the shoulder 62 asshown in FIGURE 21. Thereupon, the anchoring portion or web 63 isgripped firmly between the intermediate connecting web portion '58 ofthe clip and th retaining'prong 61. By tending to spring back toward itsinitial position, the anchoring leg 59 of the clip thrusting against theinside of the lower rail portion 60 biases the spring arm 57 firmlytoward and into engagement with the opposing face of the lower marginalportion of the side wall of the magazine 31 defining the clearance space64. This normally maintains the slide retaining finger 54 as an upwardlyfacing shoulder to engage the lower edge of a slidein the associatedslide pocket compartment of the tray. However, when it is desired torelease the slide downwardly, pressure applied to the downwardlyprojectingterminal 55 in an outward direction correspondingly flexes theleg 57 untilthe finger 54 clears the wall of the tray and permitsthe'slide to drop.

Along the opposite lower side margin of the tray 31is a longitudinaloutwardly projecting integral rail flange 65 which is generallycomplementary to the clip supporting rail flange 60 along the oppositeside and adapted to support the'tray for slidable movement along thetrack 37 of the machine. In addition, the rail flange 65 provides meansfor indexing the tray to register the respective slide compartments withthe tray receiving slot 38. For this purpose, the rail flange 65 isprovided with outwardly and downwardly Opening indexing notches 67aligned with the respective slide compartments and respectively dividedby integral teeth 68. As will be observed in FIGURE 19, the teeth 68 ateach opposite end 3 of the series are preferably shorter than theremaining teeth as indicated at 68a to afford initial end clearance,facilitating engagement of indexing mechanism in the endmost respectiveindexing notches 67.

equipped with thirty slide pockets or compartments. In

a practical arrangement, the tray 31' may be of a length to accommodatedouble the usual number of slides, namely up to sixty. Moreover, in thistray 31', the dividers or septa 32' instead of being notched out fromthe top as depicted for the speta 32 in FIGURE are notched out from thebottom, and at their tops are provided with means for gauging thethickness of slides to be inserted into the respective compartments,thus avoiding inadvertent loading of the tray with anythingbut slides ofapredetermined maximum thickness and preventing possible jamming. Forthis purpose, the uppermost portions of the respective dividers or septa32' are provided with fragmentary upwardly projecting marginal thickenedgauging portions 32a adjacent one side of the 6 tray and providing agauging gap therebetween which is just wide enough to receive the properthickness of slide while the .major compartment gap is wider to aifordmore clearance and greater freedom of insertion and removal movement ofthe slides.

In order to prevent accidental dislodgment of the slides from the topopenings of the slide compartments of the tray 31', a releasableslide'lock 69 is provided, which conveniently comprises a generallyinverted U-shaped strip or thin bar, the main portion of which is aslong as the tray 31 and having at its opposite ends respectiveengagement legs 69a pivotally secured at 69b to the end wall of the trayadjacent to the opposite side from the gauging projections 32a andadapted to be swung from a clearance position at the adjacent side ofthe tray into overlying position to the slides in the tray to lock theslides against upward displacement. In the locking position thereof, theleg 69a of the locking bar 69 engage against limit stop lugs 70 on therespective opposite end walls of the tray. A suitable frictional bindingof the legs 69a against the adjacent end walls will serve to hold thelocking bar 69 in the locking position until it is deliberately swunglaterally into the slide-releasing position.

A modified side-retainingspring finger structure 53 is provided in whatmay be referred to as a generally comb strip structure which is adaptedto be molded from suitable synthetic plastic such as Delrin acetalresin. In this form, the retaining fingers 54' with their dependingterminals 55' are carried by respective resiliently flexible legs 57'attached to the intermediate portion which in this instance comprises abar-like body member 58 of suitable length carrying a substantialplurality of the finger clips. For connecting the body 58' to theattachment portion 63 of the tray rail 60', the depending anchoring leg59' has a portion which engages the outer side of the tray rail portion63' and an inner depending leg portion 59a engaging the inner side ofthe tray rail. Anchoring is effected by providing on the upper innercorner of the tray rail portion 63' a shoulder rib 62' which engagesretainingly in a groove defining an interlock shoulder 61 at the upperend of the anchoring leg portion 59a. Through this arrangement, assemblyof the retaining clip structure 53 is readily eifected by inserting thespring portions downwardly into the clearance gap 64' and flexing thespring legs 57' against the outer face of the adjacent side wall of thetray 31' as shown in FIGURE 25 and then, by continuing downward assemblymovement of the spring unit, engagement of the upper edge portion of therail part 63 in the groove between the inner and outer portions of theleg 59' effects interlocking engagement of the shoulders 61' and] 62'.In the final assembly, the retaining fingers 54' project inwardly intointercepting relation to respective slides in the compartments betweenthe dividers or septa 32'.

Along the opposite side of the tray 31 from the rail 60' is provided therail 65' having the: notches 67 separated by the tooth-like dividers68'.

Because the user of the machine may have slides already housed inconventional slide trays, an adapter tray 31" is provided which isconstructed essentially similar to the principal tray 31 except that itis shallower and adapted for receiving an existing, standard orconventional type of slide tray 71 (FIGURES 26 and .28) having only oneaccess or slide displacement opening into the respective slidecompartments. To this end, the adapter tray 31" has the walls thereofconstructed to receive the conventional tray 71 therein in an invertedposition and resting on a shoulder 72 (FIGURES 28 and 29). Means forretaining the tray 71 assembledwith the adapter tray 31" comprisesuitable latch means, conveniently in the form of a resiliently flexiblelatch arm 73 (FIGURES 2628) projecting upwardly from each opposite trayend and each having a latch dog shoulder 73a engageable with theadjacent bottom edge of the tray 71 to hold it against unintentionaldisplacement from the adapter tray. Respective cam faces 73b on theinner sides of the latch dogs 73a facilitate spring snap-on assembly ofthe adapter tray by general alignment of the adapter tray 31" over thetray 71 held open-side toward the adapter and then pressing the latches73 past and along the ends of the tray 71 until the shoulder 72 seats onthe edge of the tray 71 and the latch dogs 73a snap into retainingrelation to the opposite end edges of the tray 71.

Upon inverting the assembled adapter tray 31" and the conventional tray71, the slides in the respective slide compartments of the tray 71 droppartially from the tray 71 into aligned compartments in the adapter tray31" provided by respective dividers or septa 32" which, in thisinstance, have their upper edges constructed to conform generally to theouter edges of the dividers or septa of the tray, as shown in FIGURE 28and preferably provided with non-angular, generally rounded and slightlybulbous cross-section respective edge formations 74 to avoid catching ofthe edges of the slides thereon. On dropping into the slide compartmentsof the adapter tray 31", the slides are supported against unintentionaldropping out of the open bottom ends of the slide compartments byretaining clips 53" essentially the same as the retaining clips 53 ofthe main or independent trays 31. That is, retaining fingers 54" of theretaining clips engage the adjacent lower ends of the slides but areadapted to be sprung out of retaining relation by pressure against therespective depending terminals 55" thereof to swing the resilientlyyieldable respective legs 57" thereof outwardly in the clearance space64".

While the rail rib and clip supporting structure 60 of the tray 31" maybe essentially the same as the corresponding structure of the tray 31,in this instance alternatively or by preference the clips 53 may beintegrally connected in comb-like relation by having the same projectfrom one side of a strip in which the connecting web leg portionscomprise a continuous flange 58" (-FIGURES 28 and 29) and the anchoringleg 59" is also a continuous flange, with retaining prongs 61" struckout only at a few spaced intervals, so that the inset portion 63" needhave only a corresponding few of the anchoring shoulders 62". Assemblyand functioning of the clips 53" with the adapter tray 31" is effectedsubstantially the same as hereinbefore described in connection with theclips 53 and the tray 31. Similarly, the adapter tray 31" is providedwith an opposite marginal combination slide rail and indexing means 65"provided with indexing notches 67" divided by generally wedge-shapedteeth 68".

One of the adapter trays 31" can service a succession of theconventional trays 71, it being a simple matter to detach the adaptertray from one of the trays 71 for assembly with another. When it isdesired to remove the adapter tray from the attached tray 71, theassembly is inverted to return the conventional tray 71 to an upwardlyopening position. Thereby the slides all drop from their partiallyprojected positions in the adapter tray back to normal position withinthe tray 71. Then, by springing the latches 73 free from the tray 71through a simple digital manipulation, the adapter tray 31" can belifted away and assembled with another one of the conventional, loadedtrays 71.

In the modified adapter tray structure as shown in FIGURE 30, instead ofretaining spring latch members projecting beyond the upper edges of theends of the adapter tray, one or more, and in this instance a pair oflaterally spaced shorter and narrower resiliently flexible retainingfinger-like latch arms 75 may be provided on each end wall of theadapter tray and constructed essentially similar to the resilient latchelements 73. Since conventional slide trays are customarily providedwith a shouldered ledge or rib on their end walls convenient forengagement by the resilient latch elements 75 at a location below thetop edges of the end walls of the adapter tray, this enables locatingthe free ends of the spring latches 75 within the plane of the adajacentend wall edge and also within the outer plane of such end wall and thusprotected against damage from careless handling of the adapter tray.

In respect to both of the forms of retaining spring latch 73 and 75,while they may be formed of spring metal and attached to the respectiveadapter trays, where the material from which such trays are constructedis possessed of inherent resiliency, the latches are desirablyconstructed integrally with and from the same material as the tray. Forexample, such trays are commonly molded from a suitable syntheticplastic material such as styrene, which readily lends itself to thistype of integral molded construction.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, apparatus is housed within thecasing of the machine 33 for indexing the slide tray 31 (or 31' or 31",as the case may be) to effect successive registration of the slidecompartments thereof with the receiving slot 38 across the tray track 37of the machine; to release the respective retaining'fingers of theretaining clips 53; and to transport the selected slides 30 through afull cycle, including gravity feed, previewing, projection and return'tothe slide tray.'To this end, mechanism-supporting framework is mountedwithin the ample mechanism chamber afforded by the shell hou'singand-preferably constructed and arranged to afford as nearly aspracticable sub-assembly units to be conveniently bench-assembled andinstalled in the machine. This includes a vertically standinghorizontally elongated frame panel or plate 76 having a right angularlower marginal foot flange 77 secured as by means of screws 78 toupstanding attachment bosses 79 rising from the base wall of the lowercasing shel1'34 and extending transversely across the mechanism chamberin proper orientation adjacent to and below the receiving slot 38.

Adjacent to one end of the slot 38, slide tray indexing means 80,comprising a suitable gear cluster, is mounted on a suitable horizontalmounting flange portion 81 on the mechanism plate 76. These gearsinclude a large toothed indexing pinion 82 which projects peripherallyinto the side of the tray track 37, properly oriented with respect tothe slot 38 and engages the indexing notches 67 of the tray 31, in themanner of a rack and pinion. A pressurereleasable, click-typeresiliently biased over-run preventing dete'nt 82]; engages with theteeth of the indexing pinion. For advancing the indexing pinion 82 byone tooth increments, a forwardly driving gear 83 has a one-revolutiontooth 84 on a hub 85 disposed for meshing with and advancing the pinion82 in each revolution of the driving gear. Reverse incremental indexingof the tray is effected by a gear 87 which is the counterpart of theadvancing gear 83 and has a hub 88 provided with a one revolution tooth89 and driven in the opposite rotary direction through meshing gears 90and 91 which respectively mesh in driven relation with the advancinggear 83 and the reversing gear 87.

While the indexing pinion 82 and the transmission gears 90 and 91 aremounted rotatably in suitable manner directly on the supporting flange81, the advancing gear 83 is fixed corotatively on the upper end portionof a drive shaft 93 and the reversing gear 87 is mounted relativelyrotatably on the same shaft but supported in a fixed axial directionthereon. By vertically shifting the shaft 93 dis-engagement of theadvancing gear and engagement of the reversing gear with respect to theindexing pinion 82 can be effected. For this purpose, the shaft 93extends downwardly through the supporting flange 81 (FIGURES 8 and 9)and has biasing means normally urging it in the direction to maintainthe advancing gear in mesh with the indexing pinion, in the presentinstance downwardly. Suitable means for this purpose comprise a coiledcompression spring 94 thrusting upwardly against the underside of theflange 81 and downwardly against a collar 95 mounted on an intermediateportion of the shaft.

When it is desired to reverse the indexable movement of the slide tray,the shaft 93 is shifted upwardly against the bias of the spring 94sufliciently to disengage the advancing gear 83 and engage the reversinggear 87 in respect to the indexing pinion 82. This is convenientlyeffected by means of a solenoid 97 suitably mounted adjacent to theshaft 93 on a frame part or bracket 98 to which is pivotally mounted abell-crank 99 having one arm operatively engaged with the armature ofthe solenoid and its other arm provided with a presserfinger 100engageable with the underside of the thrust collar 95 when the solenoid97 is energized to'thrust' the shaft 93 upwardly into the reversedriving relation. Through this arrangement, although the shaft 93 isdriven in one rotary direction, both forward and reverse indexing of theslide tray is accomplished.

Driving of the indexing shaft 93 is effected through a helical gear 101mounted on the lower end portion of the shaft between vertically spacedbearing portions of a bearing bracket 102 and meshing with a drivingworm 103 carried by a horizontal shaft 104 having its adjacent endportion journalled in the bracket 102. This drive shaft 104 extends inspaced relation across the back of the mechanism mounting plate 76 andhas its opposite end portion journalled in a bracket flange 105 on theopposite side of the plate 76, as best seen in FIGURES 4 and 8.

In order to avoid damage to the mechanism and more particularly thedriving means, should there be a jamming of the indexing means, couplingof the driving gear 101 with the shaft 93 is effected through anautomatically releasable safety clutch. For this purpose, the gear 101is mounted in freely rotatable relation on the shaft 93, and rests atits lower end on a clutch disk 107 having one or more teeth 108releasably engaging in corresponding notches 109 in the opposing clutchface of the gear 101. Corotational but freely axial relative slidingmovement of the clutch plate 107 on the shaft 93 is effected byproviding the shaft with a longitudinal flat 110 with which the clutchplate is keyed through its D-shaped bore. Normally, the clutch plate 107is held in clutching coaction with the gear 101 by resilient biasingmeans comprising a coiled compression spring 111 encircling the lowerend portion of the shaft 93 and thrusting at its lower end against alower bearing flange of the bracket 102 and at its upper end against theclutch disk 107. Upward movement of the gear 101 is prevented byengagement of its upper end with the upper bearing flange of the bracket102. Should there be undue resistance to rotation of the shaft 93, theclutch disk 107 will be caused to disengage from the driving gear 101while the latter is driven rotatably, as permitted by yielding of thespring 111. Since the shaft 93 is freely slidable in the gear 101 andthe clutch disk 107, the gear 101 remains in mesh with the driving Worm103 when the shaft 93 is shifted upwardly for reverse indexing of theslide tray.

Driving of the drive shaft 104- one revolution at a time coordinatedwith each cycle of slide handling is accomplished through a helical gear112 (FIGURES 7 and 8) mounted thereon adjacent to its end journalled inthe bracket flange 105. Meshing with the helical gear 112 is a helicaltransmission gear 113 mounted on a shaft 114 journalled at its forwardendportion in the mounting plate 76 and extending rearwardly therefromand having its opposite end portion journalled in a mounting framebracket structure 115. Adjacent to one end, the elongated helical gear113 has a peripherally projecting follower slide 117 which slidablyengages in dwell relation with the predominantly cylindrical perimeterof a relatively large diameter cam disk 118 having on a predeterminedsegment of such perimeter a series of gear teeth 119 with drop-innotches at each end for the lead and trailing fingers of the dwellslide. Meshing of the teeth 119 with complementary gear teeth on thegear 113 rotates the gear 113 one revolution in each full revolution ofthe cam disk.

Mounting of the cam disk 118 is on a front-to-rear shaft 120 journalledat its forward end portion on the mounting plate 76 and at its rear endportion in an elongated barrel clutch hub 121 of a transmission gear122. The latter is journalled in the bracket 115 and meshes with a gear123 mounted rotatably on a shaft 124 on the bracket 115 and having ahelical gear portion 125 which meshes with a driving Worm 127 mounted onan upwardly extending portion of a drive shaft 128 of an electricaldriving motor 129 (FIGURES 4, 6 and 7). A downwardly extending portionof the drive shaft is drivingly connected to a cooling fan 129a.

In order to permit continuous running of the motor 129 but single cycleactuation and selective indeterminate dwell of the operating mechanism,a normally disconnected clutch is interposed between the cam disk shaft120 and the power gear train. Conveniently such clutch comprises acoiled spring clutch member 130 coiled about the gear drum 121 andhaving one terminal 131 anchored to a collar 132 rigid with the shaft120. Normally, this spring clutch 130 tends to grip the drum 121corotatively, but an opposite terminal 133 of the clutch spring projectsradially outwardly to engage a stop bar 134 which is mountedreciprocably to project normally into the path of the clutch terminal133 whereby to stop rotation of the spring clutch with the clutch drum121 and effecting. declutching torque expansion of the spring. Selectiveretraction of the clutch-disabling stop bar 134 is effected by meanscomprising a solenoid 135 mounted on the bracket 115 and having itsarmature 137 operatively connected to the stop bar 134. Normally, thearmature 137 and the declutching stop bar 134 are biased by meanscomprising a compression spring 138 to project the bar 134 into thedeclutching position in the path of the clutch terminal 133.

Mounted on the mechanism plate 76 and operatively controlled by the camdisk 118 are slide handling mechanisms. These include a vertical slidecarrier comprising a preferably rectangular frame 139 mounted forhorizontal reciprocation along the back face of the mechanism plate 76between a slide previewing position (FIG- URES 3, 4 and 8) and a slidereceiving position (FIG- URES 5, 9 and 10). On its lower margin alongits face adjacent to the mounting plate 76, the carrier frame 139 hasslide supporting means comprising flange means 140 providing upwardlyopening slot or trough 141 receptive of the lower margin of one of theslides 30 to be previewed with the framed transparency area of the slidein substantially centered alignment with a large area aperture clearance142 afforded by the carrier frame. In the previewing position of thecarrier frame, this aperture area and the aperture framed. by the slideare substantially centered in alignment with a previewing aperture 143through the supporting plate 76. Mounting of the carrier 139 fortransportation between the previewing and slide receiving limits ofreciprocable movement is conveniently accomplished by providing on thelower margin of the frame a horizontally elongated guide flange 144equipped with fixed horizontally spaced eye bearings or sliders145'jslidably engaging the drive shaft 104 therethrough which thusprovides a supporting and guide track for the carrier. A guide for theupper portion of the carrier 139 is provided by a horizontally extendingguide flange 147 attached to the inner face of the mounting plate 76 andengaged by a guide finger flange 148 on the carrier frame.

Cyclical reciprocations of thecarrier 139 are effected by the cam disk118 through a cycling cam 149 (FIG- URES 4, 8 and 11) on the b'ack faceof the disk. Rotary motion of the cam disk is translated intoreciprocatory motion through a sector gear 150 suitably rockably mountedadjacent to the back of the cam disk by means of a hub 151 extendingrearwardly on the sector pivotal y engaging a stub shaft 152 (FIGURE 7)carried by and projecting forwardly on the bracket structure 115. Anupwardly extending follower arm 153 on thesector 150 has a follower 154in engagement with the periphery of the control cam 149. On its loweredge, the sector has gear teeth 155 meshing with a drive gear portion157 of a slide carrier actuating pinion 158 mounted on a shaft 159journalled in the mechanism plate 76 and meshing with the teeth of adownwardly facing rack 160 on the carrier guide flange 144. Biasingmeans conveniently in the form of a torsion spring 161 (FIGURES 4 and8-) encircles the shaft 159 and has one end anchored to the mechanismplate 76 and the opposite and anchored to the pinion 158 under torsionalloading normally urging the carrier drive pinion counterclockwise asseen in FIGURE 8 and thus biasing the sector 150 to maintain thefollower 154 constantly in following engagement with the carrier cyclingcam 149.

In each revolution of the cam disk 118, the carrier controlca-m 149causes the sector 150 to drive the pinion 1 58 to'effect' a'cyc'licaltraverse of the 'slide carriage 139 from the preview position to theslide receiving and exchange position and return. One such completecycle is depicted in FIGURES 11 and 13 oriented with respect to the zeroposition depicted in FIGURE 8 wherein the carrier is in the previewposition. During the first thirteen degrees of rotary movement of thecam disk 118 relative to the follower 154, the carriage remainsstationary or in dwell relation at preview. During the next sixtydegrees of cam disk rotation, there is a rapid advance of the slidecarriage 139 into the slide exchange and receiving position under therespective slide tray mounted in the track 37 and indexed in respect tothe clearance slot 38. There, the carriage 139 remains in a dwell orstationary position during about 197 of cam movement while the previewedslide is returned to the tray and a succeeding slide is delivered intothe carrier. In the final ninety degrees of rotation of the cam disk118, the carrier 139 is returned to the preview position.

As the sector 150 makes one complete rocking cycle as controlled by thecam 149, with corresponding oscillation of the pinion 158 and its shaft159, a shutter controlling cam disk 162 (FIGURES 3, 4 and mounted on theforward end portion of the pinion shaft 159 and located on the forwardside of the mechanism plate 76, alternately moves a shutter 163 intoblocking or closing relation across the front of the projection aperturearea and returns the shutter to non-operating or open position. For thispurpose, the shutter 163 is carried by a shutter arm 164 extendingacross the outer face of the cam disk 162 and pivotally mounted on astub shaft 165 projecting forwardly on the mechanism plate 76.Intermediately the shutter arm 164 has a follower shoulder bend 167which engages an actuating cam structure 168 on the front face of thecam disk 162. Through this arrangement, when the cam disk 162 rotatesoscillatably in a clockwise direction, as seen in ,FIGURES 3 and 5, theshutter arm 164 is raised and when the cam disk 162 returns in theopposite rotary direction the shutter arm 164 is lowered. Normally, theshutter arm is biased downwardly toward its lower position by means suchas a tension spring 169.

Should it be desired, for editing purposes or otherwise, to move theshutter 163 into its operative projection aperture area blockingposition out of normal cyclical sequence, a manual shutter actuatinglever 170 is adapted to be actuated. This lever extends in a generallyvertical direction, is provided with a downwardly facing shoulder 171which overlies the adjacent end porrecess 50 in the upper casing shell35 of the housing.

When it is desired to close the shutter 163, simple downward digitalpressure on the lever button 173 causes the shoulder 171 to rock theshutter arm 164 to move the shutter into closing position. When thebutton 173 is released, the shutter spring 169 snaps the shutter open.

Another function of the master cam disk 118 is to actuate means forgravitationally delivering slides from the overhead tray and returningslides thereto. For this purpose, the master cam disk 11 8 has on itsforward face opposing the mechanism plate 76 a lifter cam 174 with whichis engaged a follower 175 projecting rearwardly through a plate aperture176 from a lifter arm 177 at tached pivotally at one end as shown at 178to the mechanism plate in clearance relation below the preview aperture143 and behind the shutter control cam disk 162. A distal hook-shapedend portion 179 on the lifter arm carries a slide-engaging generallyupwardly directed tip 180. Conveniently, this tip 180 comprises aseparately formed member, as best seen in FIGURE 9,

suitably attached to the end portion of the lifter arm carrying thesame. Location of the lifter tip is normally as nearly as practicablycentered below the projection aperture area, generally defined by anopening 181 in the mechanism plate 76 and having its lower end portionrecessed downwardly to afford clearance through which the lifter tip 180projects rearwardly from the lifter arm mounting end through themechanism plate into proper position under the slide receiving slot 38in the tray guide track 37. Thereby, the lifter tip 180 is adapted to beraised and lowered between a lower between-cycle, inactive position asshown in FIGURES 3, 4, 8 and 9, and an upper slide receiving orreturning position relative to the bottom of one of the trays 31 indexedin the tray track 37, FIGURES 5 and 9.

Because the lifter arm 177 is of relatively great length between itspivoted end and its lifter tip end, suitable intermediate guide meanstherefor are provided. Desirably, such guide means comprise an arcuateguide track flange plate member 182 secured to the front face of themechanism plate 76 between the previewing and pro jecting apertureareas. A guide roller 183 rotatably mounted on the lifter arm 177 ridesthe guide track or rail provided by the member 182. This stabilizes thelifter arm and assures substantially accurate registration of the liftertip 180 with the slides handled thereby.

Biasing means such as a tension spring 184 (FIGURES 3 and 5) urges thelifter arm 177 to swing about itspivot 178 in one direction, in thisinstance in an upward direction, whereby the follower 175 rides firmlyagainst the lifter control cam 174 which is contoured to drive thelifter through a full cycle of operation in each complete rotation ofthe cam disk 118 and in timed, coordinated relation to the slide carrier139. As viewed in FIGURES 3 and 12, the cam 174 and the follower 1'75are in the ready, at rest, or starting position which is indicated inFIGURES 12 and 14 as at zero.

During about the first 85 degrees of rotation of the cam disk 118, adwell or inactive position of the lifter arm is maintained. Duringapproximately the following sixty-four degrees of cam disk rotation, andafter the carrier 139 has reached its slide returning/ receivingposition under the indexed tray, the lifter is raised. It then remainsin the fully raised position for about the next twenty-four degrees ofrotation of the cam disk and then in about the next sixty-four degreesof cam disk rotation the lifter is lowered. Such raising and lowering ofthe lifter occurs while the carrier remains in a stationary or dwellposition under the slide tray. Then through the remainder of the cycleof rotation of the cam disk 118 to the starting position, the lifterremains in its inactive lowered position.

Means are provided for supporting the respective slides in theprojection position and so constructed and related to the preview slidecarrier as to serve as means for positively guiding slides raised fromor lowered to the carrier by the lifter tip 100. In a practical form,such means comprise a generally inverted U-shaped fiat septum lock frameand projection aperture plate member 187 of a width to fit within thesubstantially oversize projection aperture opening 181 (FIGURE 8).Attached to the front face of the projection aperture frame 187 is acomplementary frame plate 188 which at the lower side of the apertureframe provides an upwardly facing slide sup porting shoulder 189. At thelower front opposite side of the frame plate a generally complementaryfacing plate 190 provides a complementary upwardly facing slideretaining shoulder 191 in a horizontal plane with the shoulder 189. Inaddition, the facing plate 190 together with the side edge portion ofthe frame plate 187 provides a flanged guide vertically slidablyengaging the adjacent vertical side edge portion defining the aperture181 in the mechanism plate. At its side, the frame member 187 has a pairof vertically spaced laterally and rearwardly extending flange lugs 192fixedly attached to a vertical rod 193 in sliding bearing engagementthrough suitable bearing apertures in the upper mechanism plate bracketflange 81 and through the upper flange of the bracket 102. .At its lowerend, the guide rod 193 projects downwardly into engagement with a timingcam 194 fixedly attached to longitudinal shaft 104 for controlling thevertical position of the frame 187.

Normally, the frame plate 187 is maintained by the cam 194 in itsuppermost position to lock the indexed tray, with the septum 32 whichseparates the slide to be projected and the slide to be previewed insubstantially accurate vertical alignment with a separating cross bar195 at the top of the frame. This cross bar has its upper edge 197tapered substantially knife edge fashion to oppose a complementarysubstantially knife edge tapered lower margin 198 on the opposingseptum. Closely aligned opposition of the tapered edges 197 and 198 isassured by engagement of opposite end portions of the septum marginal'edge 198 in respective V-shaped upwardly opening locking grooves 199 and200 .(FIGURES 4, 9 and 9A) on opposite end portions of the top edge ofthe frame 187.

A second function of the frame plate 187 in its normal upper positioncomprises activation of a releasing device for the slide-retainingspring fingers. Herein this device comprises an upwardly extending lever201 (FIGURES 3 and 4) having on its lower end .portion a pivotalconnection 202 to the mechanism plate 76 along the right side of theopening 181. Normally, the lever 201 is biased by means such as a spring203 toward the adjacent side of the frame member 187 so that a laterallyextending cam projection 204 on the lever overlies a kick-out dog 205von the frame member in its lowered position (FIG- URE 5). Upon raisingof the frame member 187, the dog 205 cammiugly 'acting against the camprojection 204 swings the lever 201 against the spring bias and drives afinger-releasing flange 207 on the upper end of the lever against thedepending terminals 55 of the two retaining fingers of the cartridgealigned with the slide compartments respectively indexed over the slidecarrier 139 positioned thereunder and the supporting shoulders 189 and191 on the aperture frame 187. In the fully raised position of the frame187, the finger-releasing flange 207 completely clears the two springfingers engaged thereby from retaining engagement with the respectiveslides 30 and such slides are engaged by the lifter tip 180. Lowering ofthe septum lock 187 to release the slide tray is timed by the cam 194 tooccur when the lifter finger tip 180 isiu its uppermost position (FIG-URES 5 and 9), and automatic indexing of the tray is effected throughdriving of the shaft 104 through the segmental gear portion 119 on themaster cam disk 118. This is schematically shown in FIGURE 14, asoccurring in the master cam disk rotary cycle segment between about 149and 190". It will be observed that this overlaps the up position dwellof the lifter as controlled by the cam 174.

As best seen in FIGURES 9 and 10, the lifter finger 180 has an upwardlyopening clearance notch 208 which is deep enough to clear the head crossbar 195 of the frame 187 while the lifter tip is in its raised positionat the slide-receiving level.

In order to assure that each successive slide to be projected is asnearly as practicable in focus, while nevertheless aflording ampleclearance for free and web structed feed-in and return movements of theslides by means of the lifter arm and trip 180, releasable means areprovided for pressing the slides to be projected against the forwardface of the septum lock and projection frame plate 187. For thispurpose, the frame plate defines a projection aperture 209 (FIGURES 3and 8) which is large enough to assure ample clearance about theprojection aperture defined by the slide frame, but affords a flangearea about the sides and top of the aperture 209 to provide a firmbacking for the slide.

In a desirable form, such pressing means comprise releasable spacedpressure pads or shoulders 210 and 211, respectively, as best seen inFIGURES 4 and '10, opposing the plate 187 adjacent each side and abovethe aperture 209. These pressure shoulders are coordinated to move intoand out of slide-pressing engagement together and in correlation withthe cyclically operated slide handling mechanism. Thus, the shoulder 210comprises a terminal tip on an arm member 212 and the pressure shoulder211 comprises a projection in a longer arm 213. These arms havesegmental gear heads 214 which are in mesh and are pivotal about therespective axes of pivotal connections 215 to a supporting bridgebracket structure 217 provided across the top of the facing plate 188.

Normally, the pressure shoulders are biased toward the coordinated slidepressing position thereof by means such as a tension leaf spring 218thrusting rearwardly against an intermediate portion of an extension 219on the arm 213. This extension also includes a generally rearwardlyextending releasing finger 220 which projects into the path of'ashifting dog or projection 221 provided for this purpose on the adjacentside of the slide carrier 139. Through this arrangement, when the slidecarrier 139 is in slide-receiving position aligned with the septum lockand aperture frame plate 187, the pressure shoulders 210 and 211 arereleased by coordinated swinging of the arms 212 and 213 to thereleasing position by engagement of the finger 220 by the releasing dog221. After the slides have been delivered into the carrier 139 and intothe receptacle provided by the plates 187 and 188, and the carrier 139returns to preview position, the shoulders 210 and 211 automaticallyassume the slide pressing relationship under the biasing tension of thethrust spring 218.

Anytime a slide has been transported to the previewing position by thecarrier 139 and for any reason it becomes desirable to remove it, suchas for editorial purposes or to effect proper image orientation, alift-out device is adapted to be activated. Although such a device mightbe power actuated, a simple manual arrangement comprises a generallyL-shaped lever 222 (FIGURES 2, 3 and 4) having its vertical legreciprocably guided in adjacent spaced relation to one side of thepreviewing aperture 143 and along the front of the mechanism plate 76 bymeans of a pin 223 on the plate and extending through a vertical guideslot 224 in the lever leg. Along the upper margin of the mechanism platelanced and turned out guide flanges 225 stabilize reciprocal movementsof the lever. At its upper end, the lever has a suitable manualactuating terminal which may be in the form of a flange 227 whichextends a suitable distance upwardly from the adjacent surface of thehousing cover 35 to be conveniently engaged. By pulling upwardly on thehandle flange 227, the lever 222 is raised and its lower shorter leg orarm carrying a rearwardly extending lifter flange 228 extending througha vertical slot 229 opening through the lower edge defining the aperture143 engages under the lower edge of the slide 30 and lifts it upwardlythrough an ejection slot 230 above and aligned with the carrier 139. Thesame or another slide can be dropped through the slot 230 into thecarrier. In fact, if desired, the slot 230 and the ejector lever 222 maybe used for previewing a series of slides manually if desired.

Should it be desired to shift the tray 31 rapidly for skip projection orto remove it after only a certain selected group of slides therein havebeen cycled through the machine or to remove a partially filled trayafter its slides have been projected, and the like, the normalautomatically complete cycle of operation controlled by the master camdisk 118 is adapted to be interrupted at that point in the cycle wherethe septum lock 187 is released and the indexing gear 82 is free torotate in response to longitudinal manual sliding actuation of the slidetray. Conveniently such interruption of the auto-

